Southampton: Defender nets penalty as three Saints players win Thursday internationals

On-loan Southampton defender Kevin Danso scored for Austria Under-21s on Thursday evening in what proved a successful day for Saints internationals.

The 20-year-old – on a season-long deal from Bundesliga side Augsburg – netted a 76th minute penalty as his side beat Andorra Under-21s 3-1 in a UEFA U21s Euro qualifier.

After a few bright showings recently for Saints, Danso has perhaps shown his ability in attacking situations here too as he looks to potentially earn a permanent move to St Mary’s at the end of the season.

His loan to the South Coast reportedly gives Ralph Hasenhuttl an exclusive right to make him a permanent Saints man ahead of the 2020/21 season.

Danso is with Austria’s Under-21s currently despite having six senior caps to his name and will hope to be involved again on Monday against Albania.

Two other Saints players also tasted victory in the first round of international fixtures from last night.

Club captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg played the full 90 minutes as as Denmark thrashed Gibraltar 6-0 away from home.

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Braces from Christian Eriksen and striker Christian Gytkjaer and further strikes from Robert Skov and Thomas Delaney completed the rout and took their side to eight points from four European Championship qualifying games.

Denmark next play Georgia on Sunday and will be looking for another three points to add to their total in a competitive Group D.

They sit in second and three points behind the Republic of Ireland, but also have Switzerland hot on their tails in the bid to secure a place at next summer’s Euros.

A full game was also enjoyed yesterday by Saints defender Maya Yoshida as he played his part for Japan.

A 2-0 friendly win over Paraguay came courtesy of goals from attacking duo Yuya Osako and Takumi Minamino in preparation for their next World Cup qualifier against Myanmar on Tuesday.

Yoshida has found early first-team minutes for Saints hard to come by this season with players like Jannik Vestergaard and Jan Bednarek preferred by Ralph Hasenhuttl so far.